5 Teams poised to make the NBA Playoffs 2019

#2 The Houston Rockets

Oklahoma City Thunder v Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets had a mediocre 4-6 start to the season following last season’s 65 wins. General Manager Daryl Morey got desperate and offered Minnesota four first round picks for Jimmy Butler.

The offer was rejected and Butler got traded to Philadelphia. Free agent signing Carmelo Anthony was sent home in November, defensive coaching mastermind Jeff Bdzelik was brought back out of retirement, and the Rockets are now in blast-off mode.

Their current record is 24-17. This means they have gone 20-11 since the slow start. As of play on Sunday, January 13th, 2019, the Rockets have won 8 of their last 10 games. It also helps when they have a perennial MVP candidate in James Harden who has been electric and is on a stretch of 14 games with 30 or more points scored.

Point guard Chris Paul is out of the lineup nursing a hamstring pull until the end of January, Therefore, the Rockets will need to lean on Harden for results. The “Beard” is always capable of delivering. The Rockets now sit 5th in the Western Conference standings and are on the rise.